Airplanes are between 20 and 252 feet (6 to 77 meters) in length.
Small planes naturally have the shortest lengths, while large commercial airliners are the longest. Private and military planes fall between these two, respectively.
The exact length and wingspan of a plane depends on its type and model.
The world’s longest and heaviest plane was the Antonov An-225 Mriya, at 265 feet 7 inches (84 meters) in length, but it was destroyed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The world’s shortest plane is the Starr Bumble Bee II at 8 feet 10 inches (2.7 meters) in length.
The average small plane is around 20 to 30 feet (6.01 to 9.14 meters) long and has a wingspan of 35 to 45 feet (10.6 to 13.7 meters).
The Cessna 150L is 23 feet 8 inches (7.21 meters) long and has a wingspan of 33 feet (10.08 meters).
The PiperM500 is 29 feet 6 inches (8.99 meters) long and has a wingspan of 43 feet (13.10 meters).
The Bucker Bu 181 is 25 feet 7 inches (7.79 meters) long and has a wingspan of 34 feet 7 inches (10.54 meters).
Length of Private Jets
The average private jet is around 40 to 65 feet (13 to 19 meters) long and has a wingspan of 45 to 70 feet (13.5 to 41 meters).
The Falcon 900 is 66 feet 4 inches (20.22 meters) long and has a wingspan of 63 feet 5 inches (19.33 meters).
The Cessna Citation XLS+ is 52 feet 6 inches 16.00 meters) long and has a wingspan of 56 feet 4 inches (17.17 meters).
The Bombardier 650 Challenger is 68 feet 5 inches (20.85 meters) long and has a wingspan of 64 feet 4 inches (19.61 meters).
Length of Commercial Airliners
The average commercial airliner is between 100 and 230 feet (30 to 70 meters) long and has a wingspan of 90 to 210 feet (27 to 64 meters).
The Boeing 747-8 is 250 feet 2 inches (76.25 meters) long and has a wingspan of 224 feet 7 inches (68.45 meters).
The Boeing 737 is 102 feet 6 inches (31.24 meters) long and has a wingspan of 93 feet (28.34 meters).
The Airbus A320-200 is 123 feet (37.49 meters) long and has a wingspan of 110 feet 11 inches (33.80 meters).
Length of Military Planes
The average fighter plane is between 40 and 50 feet (12.12 meters to 15.24 meters) long and has a wingspan of 45 to 55 feet (13.72 to 16.74 meters).
The F-16 is 49 feet 5 inches (15.06 meters) long and has a wingspan of 32 feet 8 inches (9.96 meters).
The F-15 is 63 feet 9 inches (19.43 meters) long and has a wingspan of 42 feet 10 inches (13.06 meters).
The Su-27 is 72 feet (21.94 meters) long and has a wingspan of 48 feet 3 inches (14.7 meters).
Longest Airplane in the World
The world’s longest airplane was the Antonov An-225 Mriya, but was destroyed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
It had a length of 265 feet 7 inches (84 meters) and a wingspan of 290 feet (88.4 meters).
Since the Antonov An-225’s destruction, the Boeing 777-9 is the world’s longest plane at 251 feet (76.7 meters) and with a wingspan of 235 feet (71.8 meters).
It measures 8 feet 10 inches (2.7 meters) long and has a wingspan of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters).
Heaviest Plane in the World
The Antonov An-225 Mriya was the world’s heaviest plane, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes or 705 US tons or 640,000 kg.
Since the Antonov An-225’s destruction, the Stratolaunch is the world’s heaviest plane, with a maximum takeoff weight of 590 tonnes or 650 US tons or 590,000 kg.
Lightest Plane in the World
The Bede BD-5 is the world’s lightest airplane, weighing just 358.8 lb (162.7 kg)
In conclusion:
Airplane lengths vary greatly depending on the plane’s type and model.
Generally speaking, the longest planes are commercial airliners, followed by private and military planes. The shortest are small planes.
The world’s longest plane, the Boeing 777-9, measures 251 feet (76.7 meters) in length, while the world’s shortest plane, the Star Bumble Bee II, is only 8 feet 10 inches (2.7 meters) long.
The world’s heaviest plane is the Stratolaunch, while the world’s lightest is the Bede BD-5.
Helen Krasner holds a PPL(A), with 15 years experience flying fixed-wing aircraft; a PPL(H), with 13 years experience flying helicopters; and a CPL(H), Helicopter Instructor Rating, with 12 years working as a helicopter instructor.
Helen is an accomplished aviation writer with 12 years of experience, having authored several books and published numerous articles while also serving as the Editor of the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) newsletter, with her excellent work having been recognized with her nomination of the “Aviation Journalist of the Year” award.
Helen has won the “Dawn to Dusk” International Flying Competition, along with the best all-female competitors, three times with her copilot.
